Committee approves east-west highway study

The Legislature's Transportation Committee has approved a measure to spend $300,000 for a feasibility study for an east-west highway from Calais to Coburn Gore.

The funding would come from the state's highway fund, according to the Bangor Daily News. Sen. Doug Thomas, R-Ripley, sponsored the bill and said the study could be used to attract private investors to fund the estimated $1 billion-$2 billion project. Peter Vigue, CEO of Pittsfield-based Cianbro Corp., has promoted the project for years and spoke to the Legislature's Transportation Committee about the project's economic benefits. The measure now goes to the full Senate and House for votes.

Democrats on the committee voted against the measure because they wanted more information on the proposal.